Flowering Hesperis Plants In The Garden

Hesperis plants are popular old garden plants, and among the most desirable of hardy flowers. Native to Europe and Asia, it has naturalized over the years in much of North America, where it is now considered an invasive weed in many states. Though there are more than 60 species other than Hesperis matronalis, they are fairly obscure and not easily found. Hesperis matronalis is the only variety that is generally known and widely available. The flowers of this plant bloom in shades of purple or white and grow on showy, extremely fragrant racemes, or stems on which flowers start at the base and add new blooms as the shoot grows. Their scent gets stronger at night, hence the name hesperis, which means evening in Greek. Plants are usually quite tall, reaching up to 5 feet (1.524 meters) with proper growing conditions.

These plants usually won’t survive in hot, humid climates, preferring at least partial shade and moist soil. Hesperis loves damp thickets and wooded areas and is often seen growing along streams and riverbeds. They are frequently planted in wildflower gardens and are an addition to many mixed wildflower seed packets.